Friday, September 18, 2009
Hi folks,

It’s been a while since I posted a blog entry, but trust me, I have a good excuse this time instead of just falling back on my laziness. I’ve been meaning to put this entry up for a while, but have been a little busy recently, and not just by the towering amount of work I have to do…

I’ve been so busy because at the end of August, our son, Evan James McNeill, was born, all 9lb of him. So we’re now proud parents of a month-old baby boy.

Me with Evan the day after he was born.

He’s a bonny wee lad and is the spitting image of me, so I’m well proud to have my own mini-me. My parents have shown me pictures taken when I was Evan’s age, and it’s uncanny how much he looks like I did (much to his mum’s chagrin…).

 

Mini-Me McNeill.

So, as you can imagine, it’s been a busy time around here, but we reckon we’re doing a pretty good job so far (after getting a lot of help from our families) so little Evan’s already had a great start in life. I’ve already had him roll some dice for me; a respectable 4, 6, 5 and 4, so his Space Marines all hit their targets, and have read him a little of A Thousand Sons, which he seemed to like and I’m taking as a good sign. So, I hope you’ll bear with me if my blog entries slow down a little, as there’s a new master in the house, and it ain’t me. The McNeill household now dances to Evan’s tune and no-one else’s.

Bedtime stories as I read Evan some of Blood Pact.

In non-baby related news, I’ve just finished Book 2 of A Thousand Sons, which is proving to be an ever-expanding monster of a novel…there’s just so much to fit in! But I’ve now reached the point where the warriors of Magnus have returned to Prospero after the Council of Nikaea, so things are hotting up for the big scrap we all know is coming.

And it can’t have escaped many people’s attention that it’s UK Games Day on the 27th of September. I’ll be there all day to sign books, chat and talk all things Heresy, Ultramarines, Time of Legends and so on. Hope you can make it, as it promises to be a cracking good day, but bear with me if I look a little tired and strung out from all the restless nights.

Right, I’m off to plan out The Chapter’s Due, as I’m meant to be starting it soon once the razing of Prospero is done.

Take care, and see you all at Games Day.

Graham

9/18/2009 12:59:40 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)  #    Comments [21]Trackback
9/18/2009 1:25:48 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Dude, how lucky is Evan? My boy's been getting normal kid type of bedtime stories but he gets 40K bedtime stories!!
9/18/2009 1:54:22 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congratulations! Our daughter is about 2 months now so I know how you must be very busy! She's been getting Magic Roundabout and Cat in the Hat as bedtime reading. Maybe I'll try some Ultramarines on her.
9/18/2009 2:13:23 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congratulations!
(Being a two-time-father myself) I know what a happines is to have a baby!
Congratulations and all the best!! =)
Gildor Caranedhel
9/18/2009 2:16:33 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
That's great mate! He looks like he'll be a real handful in a few years time ; )

I hope all is well with you and Anita, that you're both getting some sleep, and that your hearts swell each time Evan smiles.

Take care and all the best

Cheers
Dave
9/18/2009 3:04:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congratulations, Graham! I especially love the "Easy" on the shirt you're wearing in that pic - taking it in stride!

All the best to you, Anita and Ewan, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at Games Day!

Ross
9/18/2009 3:21:47 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Dear Graham,

Congratulations ! That's very good news. I'm happy for you !

I think this is going to be a very special and beautifull time for you and your wife. A key point in your life.

Well, Evan is a lucky baby : since he is one of the very few who have heard bedtime stories from A Thousand sons. Haha !

But I think the ultramarines series are the best for raising a child, since that's the most decent chapter.

On the forums there has been some speculating about the story Iron warrior. Is this going to be a novel or a short story ?

Good luck with all new things and also with the writing of A thousand sons. It's good to hear we are going to see the council of nikeae.

Cheers and best wishes, Bastiaan Vergoossen. ( Captain Demeter on the forum ).



Bastiaan Vergoossen.
9/18/2009 7:27:51 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congratulations and rock on next Sunday for Games Day.

Sorry for the lacklustre reply, never been all that good/comfortable when it comes to tiny children (in any way/shape/form)....or any children for that matter, but I'm really happy that Anita and yourself have a healthy, happy baby.

Should get Empire finished by next week as I'm up to page 240ish and now that the world around me seems to have given birth now, I can come out of hiding too.
9/20/2009 5:07:55 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congrats brother,

Vashti and I cant wait to pop over and meet Evan in person, you and Anita should be very proud, you have made a very good looking son.

Hope you are getting plenty of sleep.

Chat soon

Justin

9/20/2009 9:00:34 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
I congratulate you on a great occasion!!! I wish health and happiness your kid and his mother. Thanks you for good books!
The reader from Russia.
9/21/2009 5:31:31 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congratulations Graham!

You've got plenty of work ahead of you. But the lucky little guy gets to hear all the Ultramarines stories before we do. and to think he gets to dream about the razing of Prospero!
9/22/2009 1:59:27 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Graham,
Congratulations! I replied to your email/text the day he was born, but you probably didn't check considering your son was being born! Glad everyone is doing well. He's definitely a daddy's boy... you should dress him as Mini Me for Halloween.

Drop me an email when you have free time. We have a new edition too... a dog! Ha!

-Foley
9/23/2009 1:05:04 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congratulations on becoming a Father! He is adorable ,lets hope he is a Honsou fan when he gets older..LOL Long time reader first time blogger, hopefully i will see you again at Games Day for a signing (Or 2) Congrats again mate!
9/23/2009 2:10:06 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
congrats indeed of becoming father! it truly can change man :)

waiting new ventris book anxious!! I just love your last book, baneblade action specially!
9/25/2009 5:37:00 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congratulations! I promise, it does get a bit easier as they get older and start sleeping more through the night. Children are truly a treasure. I hope that Anita is well. BTW, I don't know if you'll remember this or not, but you signed a book for a friend of mine that was a gift for me. It said,"To HMH, Fear the Night!", and he thought you'd written "HMN". Anyway, sorry for prattling on. Once again, congratulations!
9/25/2009 8:14:48 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Well done, that man! And well done Mum too!

Evan, welcome to the world!
9/28/2009 7:58:25 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Great to see you yesterday Mr. McNeill. A pleasure as always.

And as I was saying.....I know that Sigmar has a lot to cope with due to his grand vision....and that he is only human and so completely fallible. But sometimes he just needed a bit of a slap across the chops to put him back on the right track. But I can understand why he was being a somewhat of a douche! And hopefully he'll be back on the right track in the next book....despite everything that happened. And overall, I enjoyed Empire a little bit more than Heldenhammer....so on that fact...the next book should be even better than Empire.

Also, A Thousand Sons and Prospero Burns terrifies me simply because I know that I'm going to end up hating someone (in terms of deeds) and I don't want to hate Magnus and his Thousand Sons and I don't want to hate Russ and his Wolves....but someone is going to end up being the 'bad' guy.

As for the Thousand Sons and Space Wolves being not the 'typical' versions of the way they are in 40K....personally I LOVE this concept. We haven't met the Legions properly and we've only seen Magnus once in a fevered vision and only heard some of Russ's words of wisdom...so there's so much more to be explored in them and their Legions...which has me a little giddy with excitement.]

So technically me being terrified by these books is a good thing as my gut says that they're both going to be excellent pieces and I'm going to laugh, cry and generally run through the whole emotion wheel much like I always do with the books I read. And the sheer fact that I'm made to run that gamit is why I read these books.

Rock on next year!
9/29/2009 8:55:25 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Hello said i would Blog you when i got back ,hopefully you now have a face to go with my name LOL. We have met before but only briefly so it was great to be introduced. really looking forward to your A Thousands Sons novel . For me its one of the greatest storys never told, and for me i've been waiting since i was a kid.
Xhalax has said it all really, but i know for a fact if anyone can pull it off you and Dan can. So in true Wolf fashion i raise a tankard ..."TO the Mighty Mcneil..
....And Family"
Oh i almost forgot, Honsou (Fav Character) = Skull Harvest was "The Nuts" cant wait to meet Adaric Varnes,Grendel and Clone Ventris again, their definately shaping up as a mean crew,Long live Honsou ...he broke the mold mate!
9/29/2009 8:56:49 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
OH and HI Xhalax!
9/30/2009 8:05:53 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Congratulations on the birth of your son, mate.

All the best,

Steve.
9/30/2009 1:11:55 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Personally Big (Hi Big!), I hope that Vaanes gets smeared across the carpet by Pasanius in an awesome clash. That'll serve him right for being such a scumbag.

Also Mr. McNeill, after speaking with Lindsey at Games Day about future releases, I'm proud to say that I'll finally own a hardback copy of one of your books. Provding I get in quick to order one when they come out. So excited. My own hardback Graham McNeill book finally!
10/1/2009 12:36:18 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Dear Graham,

Long time no speak. I noticed your considerable absence on your blog and I wasn't visiting as much as I used to.

First of all; big congratulations for becoming a father and to Anita for giving birth to such a wonderful child. I guess things will be a bit hectic at first but I'm sure you guys shall get used to it in no time :)

Secondly; you've read some Blood Pact and A Thousand Sons to Baby Evan... did he listen to some Slayer yet ? :P

Last but not least; Its good to see you're still hard at work on A Thousand Sons (which I'm suspecting might jump the usual 412 page count) and your other projects.

Personally I'm still danm curious about the 'Iron Warrior' project which has definitely been the best kept secret in BL history.

Also I've been wondering if you might work on the script of the 'Ultramarines' 40K movie? Since you're very familiar with the Chapter and it makes sense using your knowledge for the plot of the much awaited 40K movie.

Well mate, I hope you and your family started October on the right foot and things look bright in the near future :)

Sam Spiteri, signing off.


P.S. Don't forget Slayer's 'World Painted In Blood' next month ;)


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